Eye Problems and Diseases
Floaters & Flashes
Floaters & flashes become more common as we grow older. While not all are serious, you should call your ophthalmologist with your symptoms to make sure there has been no damage to your retina.
Floaters — appear as small specks, lines, or cobwebs that you may see moving in your field of vision. They look like they are in front of your eye but are actually floating inside the eye. Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the clear gel-like fluid that fills your eye. What you see are the shadows the clumps cast on the retina. Most floaters are harmless and become less bothersome, or fade, with time.
The vitreous gel may start to thicken or shrink, forming clumps or strands in the eye. The gel may pull away from the back wall of the eye (retina), causing a posterior vitreous detachment. The retina can tear and may cause a small amount of bleeding in the eye that appears as new floaters. A torn retina is a serious problem and could lead to a retinal detachment, which may require surgery.
Call your ophthalmologist if:
- a new floater or floaters appear suddenly
- you see sudden flashes of light
- you notice a loss of side vision or other symptoms.
Flashes — occur when the vitreous gel rubs or pulls on the retina. You may notice flashing lights or lightning streaks. The flashes may appear off and on for several weeks or months. With a sudden appearance of flashes, you should call your ophthalmologist to determine if the retina has been torn.
Some people experience flashes that appear as jagged lines, often lasting 10-20 minutes. These types of flashes are usually caused by a spasm of blood vessels in the brain, called a migraine. If a headache follows the flashes, it is called a migraine headache. The flashes may occur without a headache (called ophthalmic migraine). Your eye doctor should be made aware if you have these symptoms.
Glare, Halos, Impaired Night Vision
Blurred vision, halos or glare around bright lights, and impaired night vision are symptoms of refractive errors. In some cases, halos, glare, and impaired night vision may be symptoms of an eye problem, such as a cataract. For some patients, anti-glare lenses may help improve vision. It is important to inform your eye care professional of these symptoms at your eye examination.
Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve. When damage to the optic nerve occurs, blind spots develop and may go undetected until there is significant damage. If the entire optic nerve is destroyed, blindness will result. Clear liquid circulates inside the front portion of the eye. To maintain a healthy level of pressure within the eye, a small amount of this fluid is produced while an equal amount flows out of the eye through its drainage system. If the drain is blocked, pressure builds within the eye, pushing against and damaging the optic nerve.
- Open-angle glaucoma – most common
The risk of open-angle glaucoma increases with age, as the drainage angle of the eye becomes less efficient over time and causes eye pressure to build. Typically, open-angle glaucoma has no symptoms in early stages. - Closed-angle glaucoma
Some eyes are formed with the iris too close to the drainage angle, and this condition can block the drainage channel completely. It causes the fluid to build pressure inside the eye rapidly and is an emergency situation.
Early detection and treatment are the keys to preventing blindness from glaucoma. It is typically controlled with medicated eye drops that lower eye pressure. Outpatient laser surgery or incisional surgery may be needed to lower eye pressure and to help prevent further damage. The Indiana Eye Clinic offers the latest in glaucoma treatment, including Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty and Canaloplasty.
Watch video below about Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty.
Keratoconus Treatment
Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea (clear front window of the eye) becomes thin and protrudes. This abnormal shape can cause serious distortion of vision. The cause of keratoconus remains unknown, and although keratoconus is not generally considered an inherited disorder, the chance of a blood relative having it is thought to be as high as 1 in 10.
In early stages, vision may be only slightly affected, causing blurring or distortion, glare, light sensitivity and irritation. Each eye may be affected differently. Mild cases are successfully treated with glasses or specially designed contact lenses. When vision is no longer satisfactory with glasses or contacts, surgery (usually a corneal transplant) is recommended.
